Chapter 11

11

N ine days later, Neve was bundled up tight and jogging to keep up with Pine as they walked to the edge of his territory. The snow crunched beneath their boots, and a chill wind whipped through her layers, but the excitement bubbling inside her kept her warm.

Pine had promised to take her flying today, and this time she was determined to enjoy it. That first day on Vemion seemed so long ago now, and she'd been so convinced that she was crazy that she hadn't taken any time to truly enjoy what was going on.

The approached a small clearing. Today, Pine seemed to be staying clear of the cliffs. It was chillier and windier and no doubt more dangerous to fly.

Neve didn't care. She wanted to soar.

The last nine days had been like something out of a dream. One night in Pine's bed had lead to another, and by the third, there was no question about where she was sleeping. Now the only real question was whether they would get out of bed at all.

Then today, he'd asked if she wanted to fly, and Neve couldn't say no.

"This should do," Pine said. "Are you ready?"

"Hell yeah." She would have been smiling wider, but her cheeks were stuck in a grimace against the biting wind. Pine had rustled up a thicker jacket and more appropriate winter wear, but it could only do so much when the temperatures had dropped to something even polar bears might find a bit chilly.

He gave her a happy smile and closed his eyes, breathing deep. For a moment, the air shimmered around him, and then there was a dragon, all shimmering blue scales and claws standing before her.

When the transformation was complete, he lowered his head, inviting her to climb aboard. Neve complied, hauling herself up and settling between his massive shoulder blades. She gripped the ridges of his scales, heart racing with anticipation.

With a powerful thrust of his wings, Pine launched them up into the air. She let out a surprised shriek as they soared higher and higher, the ground falling away beneath them. If she looked down, her stomach roiled, and she wondered just how safe this could be.

Did they make seat belts for dragon riders?

The wind whipped through her hair and stung her eyes, but she refused to look away, drinking in the breathtaking view that unfolded before them.

From up here, Neve could see for miles—the distant glittering stone in the capital city, the frozen lakes and rivers snaking across the landscape, the endless sweep of snow-capped mountains.

Neve had never experienced anything like this before. It was exhilarating and terrifying all at once, setting her heart racing. Was this what skydiving or bungee jumping felt like?

She risked a glance downwards, her stomach lurching as she registered just how far the ground was. Squeezing her eyes shut for a moment, Neve focused on the warmth of Pine's scales beneath her hands, the steady rhythm of his wings.

Slowly, Neve's worries began to subside, and the joy of the ride swept her up in its embrace.

Let's see how you like this.

She could have sworn she heard Pine's words in her head, but that was impossible. It wasn't like he could have vocal cords as a dragon, could he? Were dragons telepathic?

Before she could question it out loud, Pine banked sharply, and Neve gasped as they began to descend, spiraling down towards the snow-covered landscape. Just when she was certain they were going to crash, Pine leveled out, skimming just above the treetops before climbing once more.

Neve's breath caught in her throat, her pulse pounding. This was more than a flight; it felt like a dance, an intricate waltz swayed out against the backdrop of the winter sky.

"Faster!" she shouted, urging him on with eager laughter, her voice swallowed by the howling wind.

Pine responded with a sudden surge, his wings beating with powerful strokes, and they shot upwards like an arrow released from a bow.

Neve flattened herself against his back, sure she was about to fall off but too excited to care. She let out another laugh, a bubbling sound of pure joy, echoing through the vast expanse as they climbed higher still. Beneath them, the world became an abstract landscape of whites and blues, indistinct and distant.

It should have been colder, but Pine was a furnace beneath her, his scales emanating heat from the fire that must live inside of him.

She never wanted this to end.

Adrenaline kept her giddy, but there were more feelings jumbled up inside of her, fear and melancholy and worry. Not that she would fall. Even if it was crazy to believe, she knew that Pine would catch her.

No, she was worried about what would happen in a few days once they were done with the New Year's Celebration.

She was supposed to go home. That was the deal, the one that she'd insisted on. And now she clung even tighter to Pine's scales and tried not to think about what that would mean.

Each moment spent with Pine felt like a gift, but unlike a gift, their time was limited. How would she ever be able to go home after this?

She clung to Pine and pushed the thought aside.

The world faded beneath her again as they began to dive, the rush of air whipping around them in a wild frenzy. Pine twisted in mid-air, his powerful wings cutting through the wind as he performed a maneuver that sent a thrill down Neve's spine. She screamed, half in joy and half in fright, and found herself laughing uncontrollably as they soared upwards once more, the ground spiraling far below.

Pine evened out and they glided on the wind for several moments until she saw the ground getting closer and realized they were descending.

Pine landed, and Neve slid off of him on wobbly legs. They were at the edge of the woods, and the trees did something to block the wind, but it was still bitterly cold, and she regretted not having the dragon under her to keep her warm.

"Come see this." Pine held out a hand.

Neve took it. He led her deeper into the forest, where the trees towered over them high enough to block out a lot of the sun, their branches heavy with glimmering icicles sparkling like diamonds. The stark beauty encased in snow felt enchanted, like a realm that existed out of time and place.

That's what these weeks with Pine were—something unreal. No matter what she wanted.

"Here," he said, stopping in a small clearing where light poured through the branches above, illuminating a steaming pond. "Are you ready for a swim?"

Neve stared at Pine in disbelief. "Are you serious? It's freezing." He had to be joking. But the steam coming off the pond did feel nice.

His eyes sparkled with mischief, and he grinned. "Are you scared?"

She knew she was being played even as she slipped out of her coat and tossed her gloves aside. "Not a chance, buddy."

Pine laughed and began to remove his outer layers, glancing over to ensure she was still with him. She wasn't sure why dragons kept their clothes on when they changed shape. Every movie with werewolves she'd ever seen ended with tattered piles of fabric when they shifted. But that was fiction. This was real life.

She reached for the buttons of her shirt, fingers trembling from the cold and from growing anticipation. The moment she shed her layers, the frigid air tried to tear her to pieces. But the beauty of the forest around her—and the man in front of her—kept her going.

She didn't waste time admiring anything else as she slipped out of the last of her clothes and sprinted for the spring.

Neve plunged into the steaming water, gasping as the heat enveloped her, in stark contrast to the biting cold of the air. The sensation was immediate and intoxicating, washing over her and loosening the tension still coiled tightly in her muscles. Riding a dragon was an incredible experience, but it was hell on her quads.

She surfaced, laughter bubbling up as she turned to Pine, who had just stepped into the pond. The steam danced around him, wrapping him in a misty veil that highlighted the strong lines of his body.

Pine flashed a wicked smile, eyes gleaming. "Hot enough for you?"

Neve splashed water at him. "It's getting there."

Pine's deep rumble of a laugh echoed through the forest as he waded deeper into the water. He took his time, as if the cold air didn't bother him one bit. She watched as the steaming water lapped against his chest, highlighting every sculpted muscle, every line of strength. His eyes met hers, holding a world of unspoken promises.

It would hurt so badly when she left, she could feel it in her bones.

She refused to dwell.

Neve felt a blush creep up her cheeks, the heat of the spring doing little to disguise her body's reaction to Pine's presence. She couldn't look away from him.

Pine moved closer, his hands reaching out to gently brush her arms. Despite the warmth of the water, his touch sent shivers down her spine. He leaned in, his breath a whisper against her ear. "What are you thinking about?"

She leaned into the embrace. "This is …" She trailed off, unsure of what to say.

He cupped her face in his hands, gaze intense. "Yes. It is."

He kissed her and Neve melted into it, the warmth of Pine's lips a stark contrast to the crisp air that still pricked at her cheeks. The steam from the hot spring wrapped around them like a cocoon, isolating them from the world and giving them a moment that was solely theirs.

She could taste the faintest hint of smoke on his tongue, a reminder of the dragon that lurked beneath his masculine exterior.

And what a masculine exterior it was.

Pine's hands slid from her face, tracing a path down her neck and along her shoulders before settling on her hips under the water. He pulled her closer, their bodies pressing together as the kiss deepened. Neve could feel his heart pounding against her chest, echoing the rhythm of her own. Despite the heat of the spring, she shivered.

When they finally broke apart, Pine rested his forehead against hers, his breath coming in ragged gasps. "You have no idea what you do to me."

Neve's heart nearly broke at the vulnerability she heard. "I want you," she replied softly, her thumbs tracing the line of his jaw.

Pine closed his eyes, leaning into her touch. When he opened them again, there was a fire in his gaze that sent a thrill down Neve's spine. "Mine," he growled, his voice low and primal.

Her breath hitched in her throat, the intensity of the word like an embrace. She tried to speak, but all that came out was a soft whimper, a sound of surrender and desire.

Pine's grip on her tightened, a possessive claim that raised goosebumps across her skin, despite the heat of the water. His lips trailed along her jawline, each kiss a brand searing into her soul. Neve's fingers threaded through his damp hair, pulling him closer, as if afraid he might vanish like a wisp of smoke.

The world around them faded into a blur of sensation and emotion. Here, in this secluded haven, they were the only two beings that mattered.

Pine's hands caressed her body, mapping out her curves with a reverence that made her feel worshipped. Neve arched into his touch, feeling the contours of his chest against her own questing fingers, the defined muscles of his arms. Strength was written across every muscle, every dimple, a promise of what he would do to those who crossed him and a vow to protect those he held close.

The water lapped at their skin, the heat and cold only heightening the intensity. Pine's lips found hers again, and the kiss was a fusion of hunger and desperate care.

When he found her entrance, she groaned, wrapping her legs tight around his waist as they moved together.

Pine was deliberate, his face a mask of seductive concentration as he drove into her, gaze never leaving hers. It was intense, almost too much, but she clung to him hard enough to bruise.

The tension coiled tighter and tighter, making little noises escape her mouth as Pine hit her just right until she couldn't hold it back any longer, breaking apart against him as she came. With a roar, he emptied himself inside of her, whispering her name into her neck as he held her close.

It was almost too hot in the spring now, but Neve never wanted to leave this secret oasis, and from the way Pine was holding her, she was almost certain he felt the same.